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  • Colorful and Inspiring: Sustainable Offices for San Pablo Group in Mexico

    Colorful and Inspiring: Sustainable Offices for San Pablo Group in Mexico

    Companies’ offices, especially sustainable offices are a real inspiration source for everyone in terms of interior design or architecture as they are trully amazing and we are delighted to discover such impressive projects and to share with you on DesignLike. This time it’s about San Pablo Group Corporate Offices located on Insurgentes Avenue in Mexico City, Mexico, which drew our attention by its new playful contemporary workspace full of vivid colours. Responsible for this wonderful and creative project completed in March 2011 is the interdisciplinary team of highly talented professionals from international design studio Space Architecture, who develop a new way of seeing architecture where sustainable solutions are part of all project to some degree.

    Relaxed, spacious and open, the interior design of the San Pablo Group Corporate Offices exudes casual, friendly atmosphere. Once the user open the elevator door, you’re pleasantly suprised by the circular-shaped reception area imagined as a generously-sized modern space, defined by two stained-glass windows in blue tones with abstract graphics of medicines, a central green wall featuring the logo of the company, all in a white background with plenty of artificial lighting. The reception area reveals also a particular interesting detail such as the exposed pipes in the ceiling which definitely give the interior a genuine industrial touch. A large corridor connects the main work areas  and lets the user explore each one’s function and identity.

    They embrace playful decorations, natural hardwood, bright colours, each room having its own personality and uniqueness, very subtly framed by the variation of the pitch and intensity of the contemporary lighting. Open vistas, natural light and exterior views are a few other highlights characterizing  the offices. The green, the red and yellow invoke energy and passion, in order to let the employees think free and creative. As we mentioned before, these offices in Mexico of San Pablo Group besides the fact they are very modern and original, they are also sustainable offices including environmentaly friendly features. Thus, the project is registered with the USGBC and LEED GOLD certification is sought. Check it out and tell us what you think!

     Photos © Huguette Ampudia, Paul Czitrom via adelto.co.uk

  • 3D Printing Design Vases

    3D Printing Design Vases

    You can never have too many vases, that is for sure. A beautiful vase with fresh flowers will always brighten up any space in your house. We’ve spotted some original and very attractive models of vases showcasing 3D printing design, which belongs to .exnovo collection, a collection with unique material ideas and creative objects. Creativity, technology and emotion are three successful ingredients which are behind the Italian brand .exnovo, a brand that promises to offer you exclusive products with personalised forms in small production numbers, created using 3D Printing technology.

    The 3-dimensional structures of these vases remind us by the complexity of the nests, and also by the formation of soap bubbles and the structures they create, define some special pieces that add a sculptural element to the setting and make a great focal point in a bookcase, on a table or anywhere you want. Although very light weight, Bubbles vase is still extremely strong thanks to this 3D printing design. They are both made by laser sintered polyamide and are available only 2 weeks.

    Nest Vase

    designer: Selvaggia Armani

     

    Bubbles Vase

    designer: Selvaggia Armani

     Photos © .exnovo

  • Microsoft Headquarters in Vienna Boasts Ultra-Modern Design

    Microsoft Headquarters in Vienna Boasts Ultra-Modern Design

    Dynamic, ultra-modern and with a touch of fun, that’s how can be described in a few words the relatively new office design for the Microsoft Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. As you can see in our previous articles Awesome Google Offices Designs Around the World and Creative Modern Design: Facebook Office in Palo Alto, offices of the largest international companies are renowned for their creative and innovative design concepts that inspire, encourage and stimulate people to have better professional results and be more happy.

    Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker and one of the world’s most valuable companies, seems to make no exception when it comes to its offices, joining the trend in this kind of offices’ design. The competition to design this project for Microsoft Headquarters in Vienna was won by Austrian architects INNOCAD and completed in 14 months, in 2011. Guided by their device: “Work with your brain and act with your heart”, INNOCAD Architektur ZT GmbH manage to create unconventional concepts for every client they have and this one we show you is a great example.

    They teamed up with the Microsoft project team during the subsequent project realization phase to create a design related to Microsoft’s ‘Workplace Advantage Concept’ which makes “a custom-tailored interior programme” based on the employee structure’s analysis of every branch office. So the design approach of the Austrian architects was carefully tailored to the needs of the 330 people who work there and the result is a transparent and collaborative 4,500 sqm work areas which impresses by a futuristic, fresh and even fun style.

    The three-storey offices feature amazing meeting rooms designed around three major themes: ‘flow’, ‘nature’ and ‘New York”, which besides the ultra-modern furniture and inspiring style, are also reinforced by direct and indirect lighting with pendant, floor-standing and table luminaires which creates an atmospheric undertone. High-traffic areas connected by striped vinyl flooring by Bolon gives a sense of dynamism, encouraging circulation, whilst each floor has its own green wall of living plants and vegetation, which provides a soft and natural appearance and contrasts very nice with the high-tech working environment, where we’re sure anyone of you dreams to work in such an environment, isn’t it? Find more inspiring details in the pictures below.

     Photos © Paul Ott

     

    Project details:

    Architects: INNOCAD Architektur ZT GmbH
    Location: Vienna, Austria
    Completion: 2011
    Floor Area: 4,500 sqm
    Cost: 2,800,000 Euro

  • SkyTower, the Tallest Building in Romania

    SkyTower, the Tallest Building in Romania

    The tallest building of the city of Bucharest and also of Romania, the SkyTower is almost complete. Owned by Raiffeisen International Property, the ambitious project is for the moment the largest construction in all markets where the Austrian group operates, with an investment of over 100 million euros. Built at a fast pace, within a year, the entire building will be completed at the end of 2012 and will soon become the main point of attraction in the new business district of Bucharest and a powerful new landmark of the city.

    Photo © skycam.ro

    Visible virtually from all parts of the city, it has an ideal location for today’s modern business needs: in the rapidly developing urban and residential area of Northern Bucharest, between two important arterial roads, where it has a great infrastructure, extraordinary easy access by public and private transportation, and also green surroundings (Lake Floreasca). Built to the highest technical standards, the SkyTower stands out through its great aesthetic which reveals an imposing modern architecture and elliptical shape made of 50,000 cubic meters of concrete, 8,300 tons of steel and 17,250 square feet of plywood for facades. If steel bars should be strung, being put together, would reach a length of 4463 km.

    Photos © skytower.ro

    When it’s finished, the building will have 37 floors that will total an overall height of 137 meters. It has five floors underground, thus, with all the pillars of the foundation, the tower reaches a depth of 60 meters, which represents approximately 40% of its existing surface height. Groundwater levels will have 518 parking spaces available. Office building benefits from BMS (Building Management System) that provides energy efficiency over the entire surface. The advantage of this system is to reduce maintenance costs by 30%. The building was designed so that all offices benefit from natural light, which means a reduction in lighting during the day.

    Corporate tenants looking for premium quality will find here high-class offices with perfect visibility and maximum space flexibility, exceptional panoramic restaurant skybar and  a conference area situated on 35th and 36th floor that offer magnificent views of Bucharest for they and for visitors, thus creating a strong corporate presence and identity. In addition to these exclusive amenities offered by SkyTower, visitors will have also excellent entertainment and shopping  possibilities in the new Promenada Mall, next to the SkyTower.

     Photos © skyscrapercity.com

     

     

  • Creative Piano Stairs for Pedestrians in Hangzhou, China

    Creative Piano Stairs for Pedestrians in Hangzhou, China

    Part of a series of experiments for a new brand campaign of Volkswagen, the piano stairs are a funny yet genuinely brilliant idea that came to mind to those from The Fun Theory, an initiative of Volkswagen. They think that the easiest way to get more people to take the stairs over the escalator it by making it fun to do, so they turned the 54 steps in Wulin Plaza in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, into keys of a piano that let pedestrians play a melody while they walk up and down. Black and white, just like those of a real piano, these interesting and attractive stairs are even able to make different relevant notes when people step on them, so until they go up or down, they can actually create their own melodies.

    Encouraging people to choose the healthier option of walking up the stairs by making stairs a lot more fun is an amazing idea, if we think that walking up stairs isn’t the most exciting of activities for most of us. Although at some point could be more annoying then funny sound like when 10 people are on the stairs on the same time or when some of them like the stairs too much and start clambering up and down, the piano stairs project seems to have achieved its purpose since 66% more people than normal chose the stairs over the escalator, according to those from The Fun Theory. Their fun theory applied to change people’s behaviour for the better is obviously working. What do you think about it?

     Photos © english.news.cn

    Piano Stairs

  • Geometric Paper Art by Matthew Shlian

    Geometric Paper Art by Matthew Shlian

    A new series of intricate geometrical paper sculptures, constructed by hand come from the paper artist Matthew Shlian who refers himself perhaps as a paper engineer, Matthew Shlian increasingly the relationship between the art and engineering, his work is rooted in book arts, commercial design and print media, Matt has designed with Apple, Ghostly International, P&G, IMTEK, Deloitte, ZAAZ and many others. The practical connections between paper folding and folding at microscopic and nanoscopic scales inspire many collaborators and designers in a scientific environment.

     

     

     

     

     

    I suggest you to learn more about the Geometric Paper Art on the bellow video Jakob Skogheim

  • 5 Modern Rocking Chairs

    5 Modern Rocking Chairs

    Not too long ago, we featured a post on DesignLike entitled 10 Modern Rocking Chair Designs For Outdoor and Indoor which turned out to be quite popular. That why today we want to show you some other beautiful examples of modern rocking chairs, new definitions of the classic rocking chair, sometimes almost futuristic interpretations. They are a great options for those of you who are looking for a more modern take on this relaxing seat to suit contemporary interiors.

    Eye-catching clean aesthetics characterized with highly pronounced curves, dynamic in their expression, dressed in soft comfortable materials which facilitate a relaxed sitting position, these models of rocking chairs are anything but ordinary ones. Their interesting shapes visually capture your interest while their movement provides you a unique experience of inner tranquillity  and stress release for hours.

    1. Keinu Rocking Chair

    designer – Eero Aarnio

    photo © finnishdesignshop.com

    2. Stingray Rocker

    designer – Thomas Pedersen

     photos © DanishDesignStore

     

     3. “Purity” Rocking Chair and Love Seat

    designer- Scott Wilson

     photos © yankodesign.com

     

    4. Private Rocker

    designer- Kyle Fleet

     

     photos © contemporist.com

     

    5. Ica Rocking Chair

    designer- unknown

     photos © opulentitems.com

     

  • Wireless Wooden Keyboard by Oree

    Wireless Wooden Keyboard by Oree

    Wireless Wooden Keyboard is designed by a French firm Orée, which recently launched a new keyword made by wooden. The keyword is polished, crafted and oil finished; the assembling is made by hand in their workshop. The price for this wooden keyboard is €125.00 and can be buy it from here.

    Wireless Wooden Keyboard is a Bluetooth equipped portable wireless and is made from a single piece of maple or walnut this device is universal-compatible keyboard, and you can use it with any tablet, PC, or smartphone you like. It is most natural, different, durable and renewable this product is Eco designed, crafted and hand-finished in France.